<h1>Long Period Average (LPA)</h1> <h2>Context:</h2> <ul><li>According to the&nbsp;India Meteorological Department (IMD),&nbsp;rainfall in the “second half of the monsoon" is likely to be 104% of the&nbsp;Long Period Average (LPA).</li></ul> <h2>About:</h2> <ul><li>It&nbsp;is the&nbsp;average rainfall recorded during the months from June to September, calculated during the 50-year period,&nbsp;and is kept as a&nbsp;benchmark&nbsp;while forecasting the quantitative rainfall for the monsoon season every year.</li></ul> <ul><li class="ql-indent-1">This average comes to 89 cm of rainfall.</li></ul> <ul><li>&nbsp;IMD maintains five rainfall distribution categories on an all-India scale which are –</li></ul> <ul><li class="ql-indent-1">Excess:&nbsp;If the rainfall is more than 110 % of this LPA.</li></ul> <ul><li class="ql-indent-1">Above Normal:&nbsp;If the rainfall is between 104 and 110 % of this LPA.</li></ul> <ul><li class="ql-indent-1">Normal:&nbsp;If the rainfall is between 96 and 104 % of this LPA.</li></ul> <ul><li class="ql-indent-1">Below Normal:&nbsp;If the rainfall is between 90 and 96 % of this LPA.</li></ul> <ul><li class="ql-indent-1">Deficient:&nbsp;If the rainfall is less than 90 % of this LPA.</li></ul> <h2 class="ql-align-justify">India Meteorological Department:</h2> <ul><li>IMD was established in&nbsp;1875.</li></ul> <ul><li>It is an agency of the&nbsp;Ministry of Earth Sciences&nbsp;of the Government of India.</li></ul> <ul><li>It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology.</li></ul>